Ulugbek Rashitov named best male taekwondo athlete of 2024

Uzbekistan’s taekwondo star and two-time Olympic champion Ulugbek Rashitov has been honored as the Best Male Athlete of 2024 by the World Taekwondo Federation (WT). The results of the annual voting to recognize the year's top athletes and coaches were announced on December 4.

Photo: NOC of Uzbekistan

Rashitov received his award during the World Poomsae Championship ceremony in Hong Kong, where he was personally presented with the accolade by WT Secretary-General Jeongkang Seo. This marks the first time an Uzbek taekwondo athlete has achieved such global recognition, further solidifying Rashitov's status as a trailblazer in his sport.

“This recognition is not just a personal achievement but a proud moment for Uzbekistan’s taekwondo community,” remarked Rashitov during the ceremony.

Other notable winners included Hungary’s Viviana Marton as Best Female Athlete, Peru’s Leonor Angelica Espinoza as Best Female Para-Athlete, and Azerbaijan’s Imamiddin Khalilov as Best Male Para-Athlete. The ceremony also honored Tunisian coach Yesbol Sultanov as Coach of the Year, among others.